Recordings of the online working sessions on UNESCO’s Priority Africa Flagship Programmes are now available to view online. These sessions sustained the momentum of the 2024 International Forum of UNESCO Chairs and Partners “Transforming Knowledge for Africa’s Future”. The Forum was convened by the African Union Commission and UNESCO, under the patronage of H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It was held in Addis Ababa from 30 September – 2 October 2024. Some of the Forum was recorded and can be viewed online through UNESCO’s YouTube channel.
The theme of Transforming Knowledge for Africa’s Future is based on UNESCO’s recognition that ‘the future of humanity is inextricably linked to Africa’s future. Yet, established narratives around the future of the continent continue to reflect the long-standing imbalances in knowledge production and in academic research on Africa. Research remains largely dominated by institutions in, or with close links to, the Global North. Reframing the narrative around Africa’s future requires the mobilization of diverse knowledge traditions.’
The working sessions focussed on six key themes:
- Empowering African Science
- Advancing the reflection and the action on the ethics of artificial intelligence
- Advancing the Recommendation on Open Educational Resources (OER)
- Fostering cultural heritage
- Decolonising the teaching of Africa’s history
- Reinforcing higher education in Africa
Now, recordings of the six thematic sessions can be accessed through the UNESCO Chairs Working Sessions and Seminars webpage.
A final working session on Collective reflections on the International Forum of UNESCO Chairs and Partners is also available to view in English and French.